The Department of Agriculture (DA) is stepping up support for the local seaweed industry as the government seeks to strengthen the Philippines’ position in the global market.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), an agency under DA, has distributed PHP34.66 million worth of deep-sea seaweed farming equipment to beneficiaries across the Zamboanga Peninsula.

This is part of the agency’s intensified efforts to help the country regain its position as the global leader in seaweed production.

In a statement on Monday, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said this initiative will help the sector expand output and improve the competitiveness of the seaweed industry in the Philippines.

“We must increase seaweed production to maximize income opportunities for our coastal communities while strengthening the Philippines’ share of the global carrageenan market,” he said.

In particular, the project deployed 29 nursery sets across the Zamboanga Peninsula, with each set worth about PHP1.2 million.

The initiative features high-density polyethylene (HDPE) nursery structures designed for deep-sea seaweed cultivation. Each package includes seaweed propagules or seedlings, nursery frames, anchor supports, floating systems, and holding nets.

The 29-set allocations also include drying and packing materials.

Overall, these seaweed nursery systems were deployed in Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga City, and Zamboanga del Norte.

To date, the Philippines is now fourth in global seaweed production.

Indonesia has overtaken the Philippines in raw production, while China is considered a significant competitor. (PNA)